China’s submarine forces have made remarkable progress through technological improvements in training over long-distances and combat capabilities

QINGDAO-(IDB) : On the sidelines of the ongoing West Pacific Naval Symposium in China’s eastern city of Qingdao, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy has arranged a number of exchange programs with foreign naval delegations. It hopes to expand its exchanges with foreign navies and establish a good image on the world stage. CCTV reporter Han Bin follows one delegation from Indonesia. They got the chance to visit one of the PLA’s key institutions, which has trained some 100,000 sailors and commanding officers for China’s submarine force.

Visiting the cradle of China’s submarine commanders. The PLA Navy Submarine Academy is receiving visiting cadets and officers from the Indonesia Naval Academy.

The academy is one of the military institutions that have opened up, receiving quite a number of foreign delegations. But for the Indonesian students, this is their first experience getting so close to Chinese training facilities. They say they’ve been very impressed.

Danu Umbara, Cadet of Indonesian Naval Academy, said, "This is very great, because in Indonesia, there’s not a submarine academy like this."

"People is very kind, and all the facilities are very good here," Andaru On, cadet of Indonesian Naval Academy.

Cabin for the training room, hyper pressure oxygen chamber, and submarine maneuver laboratories, These were all formerly guarded secrets of China’s submarine training system. All submarine sailors and commanding officers have gone through this kind of simulation test before serving the fleet.

Over the past few decades, China’s submarine forces have made remarkable progress through technological improvements in training over long-distances and combat capabilities.

Many Indonesian students expressed their willingness to study here one day, and learn from the Chinese officers. While the Chinese students say they also hope to visit Indonesia’s military facilities in the future.

Qu Bingchen, cadet of PLA Navy Submarine Academy, Qingdao, said, "I think it’s great that we can make friends and develop the friendship between our two navies."

The head of this delegation, Commander Bambang, praised the PLA’s growing openness, and hopes that one day, these cadets could come back as commanding officers of the Indonesian Navy.